The Garden of Evening Mists

One morning during her apprenticeship, Yun Ling asks Nakamura Aritomo to teach her kyudo, the Japanese art of archery. During her first lesson, she struggles with the bow’s physical and emotional demands, and the session ends when Aritomo injures his hand. Afterward, they walk to a rock face Aritomo calls the “Stone Atlas.”

Near a pavilion under construction, Aritomo asks Yun Ling to name the structure. She suggests a name, which he greets with skepticism. He then gives her a tour of his house, introducing the design principle of shakkei, or “borrowed scenery,” where the surrounding landscape is incorporated into the view.

Over tea, Aritomo shares his personal history: his own apprenticeship, his marriage, and the death of his wife and son in an accident. This tragedy, along with a professional disgrace leading to his dismissal by the emperor, prompted him to leave Japan. They discuss how memory can function as shakkei. Aritomo shows Yun Ling a scroll painting by his father depicting the story of the philosopher Lao Tzu.

Five months after High Commissioner Gurney’s death—the event that prompted Yun Ling to remain at Yugiri—Yun Ling’s archery practice continues. She learns mental focus from Aritomo and observes his habit of destroying his garden sketches.